In Loving Memory of
K9 GUNNER
August 15, 2008

Handler: Officer Rob Kyzer
Sebastian Police Department
1201 Main St
Sebastian, FL 32958
(772) 589-5233
 
 Sebastian Officers Mourn Police Dog - Gunner, 7, Found Unresponsive At Home
The city of Sebastian’s police department is mourning one of its K-9 officers. Officials said in a news release  on Friday that Gunner, 7, was found the evening of Aug. 15 unresponsive in his kennel in the home of his handler, Officer Rob Kyzer. The police dog was taken to a veterinary hospital where efforts to revive him failed. His cause of  death has not been determined. Kyzer said Gunner's death was an unexpected loss. He had been with the police department since 2003 and served on numerous searches, including a successful tracking of an 8-year-old missing autistic child. Gunner got his name from a Pelican Island Elementary third-grade class that suggested it. Police  department administrative staff and officers said that Gunner was an asset, a friend and a partner to the
 agency and will be dearly missed. The Sebastian Police Department is planning a remembrance ceremony in  honor of K-9 Gunner on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the United Church of Sebastian, 1251 Sebastian Blvd.
Submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA

ALI BASE, Iraq -- Staff Sgt. Sean Neisen, a 407th Provost Marshal Office K-9 handler, fights back tears after being presented with a flag in memory of his partner, Goro. Goro, an 8-year-old German shepherd military working dog, died unexpectedly July 28 from natural causes. A memorial service for Goro took place here Aug. 1. Sergeant Neisen and Goro deployed here from the 435th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

ALI BASE, Iraq -- Goro plays soccer during some downtime July 7. Goro, a military working dog assigned to the 407th Air Expeditionary Group's Provost Marshal Office here, died July 28 from natural causes.

ALI BASE, Iraq -- Goro, an 8-year-old military working dog, looks up to his "daddy," Staff Sgt. Sean Neisen,  during a break in training July 7, 2008. Goro and Sergeant Neisen deployed to the 407th Air Expeditionary  Group's Provost Marshal Office from the 435th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The german shepherd died of natural causes July 28.

ALI BASE, Iraq -- Goro, a military working dog with the 407th Provost Marshal Office, deployed here  June 27 and died July 28, 2008, of natural cuases. This was his sixth deployment. Goro was deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, with his handler Staff Sgt. Sean Neisen.

Staff Sgt. Sean Neisen searches vehicles with his dog, Goro E114, July 8 at the Vehicle Control Center at  Ali Base, Iraq. Dog handlers are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of all coalition forces  assigned here by searching vehicles that drive onto Contingency Operations Base Adder and Ali Base daily.  Sgt. Neisen is a military working dog handler deployed to the 407th Provost Marshal Office from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Staff Sgt. Sean Neisen searches vehicles with his dog, Goro E114, July 8 at the Vehicle Control Center at Ali Base, Iraq. Dog handlers are responsible for ensuring the safety and security of all coalition forces assigned here by  searching vehicles that drive onto Contingency Operations Base Adder and Ali Base daily. Sergeant Neisen  is a military working dog handler deployed to the 407th Provost Marshal Office from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Staff Sgt. Sean Neisen runs an obstacle course on base with his dog, Goro E114, July 7 at Ali Base, Iraq.  Dog handlers keep their partners in shape to ensure they are ready for vehicle searches that drive onto Contingency Operations Base Adder and Ali Base daily. Sergeant Neisen is a military working dog handler  assigned to the 407th Provost Marshals Office from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
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Goro looks up to Staff Sgt. Sean Neisen during a break in training July 7 at Ali Base, Iraq. Goro, an 8-year-old military working dog, and Sergeant Neisen deployed to the 407th Air Expeditionary Group's Provost Marshal Office from the 435th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The German shepherd died of natural causes July 28. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Sabrina Johnson)

Ali Airmen mourn loss of K-9 team member
 by Tech. Sgt. Francesca Popp -  407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs  
 
 Airmen with the 407th Provost Marshal Office here Aug. 1 held a memorial service for a K-9 member after his unexpected death from natural causes July 28. K9 Goro, an 8-year-old German shepherd, was one month into his sixth deployment.  Staff Sgt. Sean Neisen, deployed from the 435th Security Forces Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, became Goro's handler five months ago. He knew something was not quite right with Goro when he went to feed him that morning.  "When you've been around your military working dog or pet long enough, you learn the dog's behavior  and demeanor and any changes to it. You can feel when something is not right. You don't necessarily see it;  you just feel it," Sergeant Neisen said. "The morning of July 28, I went in to feed the dogs.  I knew right away that something was wrong."   He rushed Goro to the Camp Adder veterinarian, who discovered that Goro had bloat --  a condition in which a dog's stomach twists out of place. It usually occurs in large-breed dogs.  The vets tried in vain to save the dog. Sergeant Neisen worked with many dogs in his career, but said Goro was a laid-back, one-of-a-kind dog due to the extensive training that helped shape his temperament.  "He wasn't your average working dog. When it was  time to work, he'd work -- but after duty, he wanted to be your pet," he said. "He wanted to be with  his 'daddy' all the time."   Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Ivan Winder, the kennel master, remembered when he won Goro's friendship.  "I went to the kennel on his second day there. Fanda, my 4-year-old dog who can be hard-headed at times, was running around and creating a ruckus. All the while, Goro was chilling in his room," he said. "I raised my voice  to get Fanda's attention and Goro perked up too. From that day on, Goro was like, 'You're cool with me ... all right,'" Petty Officer Winder said.  "We give (the dogs) what they need to be happy," he said. "They become your kid. You take care of them."   One of the things that made Goro happy was his favorite toy  -- a big orange ball. He even liked playing soccer.  "He was all about playing with that ball," said Sergeant Neisen,  a 10-year Air Force veteran. "He could differentiate between that toy and his reward. He knows he gets to  chew on and play with the reward when he looks for it. But during playtime, when you don't have the leash hooked  up and take him to the training area, it's all about the big ball."
  Never forget
 Goro will always be remembered and have a large place in his heart, Sergeant Neisen said.  "Goro showed no limit. He was a soldier. The loss is devastating. It's (going to be) hard to pick up and move on,"  said Petty Officer Winder, who has worked with and lost many dogs in his 14 years as a K-9 handler.  "You can never prepare for a loss like this."   Goro will always be a part of the 407th PMO's family, said Petty Officer Winder, who is deployed from  Commander Navy Region Southwest in San Diego.  Goro was born Feb. 1, 2000. He entered service in April 2002  and became an explosive detection and patrol dog. A commemorative brick will be made in Goro's honor and placed in the Military Working Dog Memorial at Eglin Air Force Base, Fl.        submitted by Jim Cortina, Dir. CPWDA